A few of my own thoughts. Create yourself a price list that details out your fees, i.e., printed page using premade design - $5.00, printed page using custom-design $10.00, 1 hour design time - $20.00. By doing this you will also have a good idea what to charge for a 20-page printed album whether it is "custom" or "premade". Be sure to include your material costs into your album price (i.e., album cover, slipcovers for pages, embossing on front cover, etc.)

Whatever the amounts are you plug in, showing your customers a price list helps them make informed decisions on what to purchase, but also educates them a bit on what is involved in building your "fee" for a total album. Even if all you did is design the page and give to them to take to print, they are going to be around $5 to get a 12x12 printed, so in essence they received all your time and talents for free.

I think having a price list also helps with the emotional aspect of having to tell someone what you charge. You can provide them with a price list and explain to them the different fees involved that make up your total cost per album. Maybe you incent your previous customers with a discount for any future referrals (20% of their next album at the new rates), but you start charging your new rates to anyone new requesting your services.

The good news for you is you have already earned a reputation based on your work, the unique service you provide, and have clients wanting to buy your services. Let me tell you that is the HARD part of starting any small business. Now start educating them on what they are really buying and getting for their money and start charging them accordingly. They could not go anywhere else and get this done for the price you are charging -- NO WHERE, I promise you. I think you have a new career in the wings, my dear. Post and let us know how it goes and most of all good luck in your venture.

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Debbie Pearson, Designer
My Blog
Classique Designs
Studio Girls @ Scrapbookgraphics

PS: Just thought of something else (like I wasn't long-winded enough on the last post). My price list for photography lists "print" prices (includes cost to get printed and my time to do any editing, admin work on them, my photography session price (my time), and then I have a pre-build package price that bundles all my time & materials together and is discounted from buying the items individually. I want to incent them to buy the bundle. For me it means overall I receive a customer who is going to spend more, has a broader offering of my products (most customers come to me -- and you -- as referrals). Hope some of this information is helpful for you. Good luck! Debbie

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Debbie Pearson, Designer
My Blog
Classique Designs
Studio Girls @ Scrapbookgraphics

I agree with Kathryn & Dpearson....to ask for $20/layout is NOT out of the question...you are providing a custom service If you go to a print shop or even embroidery shops say, they charge a "setup fee" and then a print/piece fee......

Look at it this way, if you tell someone it is $20 for the layout and then $xx.00/ additional print you should be in decent shape...if anyone questions your fee and believes it to be too high you can always politely explain the that you are creating it from scratch and it takes time to setup the end product.....always remember it is a custom service and your time and talent is highly valuabe...unfortunately if some thinks it is too much you probably will be saving yoursef a headache by not having them as a customer....

And one last thing, if you want to do a favor for someone go ahead and don't feel guilty that you didn't extend the same deal to anyone else.

Good luck, sounds like you are off to a great start!

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~jayne
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Happily Creating For:


Check out my blog!!!Check out my new blog!!!

I only scrap for other people if I like 'm enough to do it for free. I wouldn't want to charge my friends and/or coworkers this amount of money. I don't wanna offend anyone, but I think 20 dollars is a lot of money for just one single scrapbookpage. Probably just me...

~Sasbok

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Saskia
designer at Polkadotpotato and Digi by Design
My blog

How do I post a new thread? I can't find any button that can allow me to post it, except for the post reply. Can someone tell me? I feel like a fool. (hee hee)

My comments were more for the digi-scrapper wanting to be a pro-digi-scrapper for hire, not necessarily for family and friends because you're right, I'd do a lot more for family & friends for free. But if I am trying to run a business, you have to start thinking about it as a business.

Here is an interesting thread at 2Peas that all might find interesting that talks a lot more about the subject of digi-scrappers for hire. If nothing else, it wil let you hear how others think about this subject to and not just my opininion.
Digi Scrappers for Hire

Whatever you decide, wishing you all the best! Debbie

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Debbie Pearson, Designer
My Blog
Classique Designs
Studio Girls @ Scrapbookgraphics

Ok, I have one more tidbit that might be helpful and then I'll be quiet for a while Here is a great reference on pricing your product for designers. Pricing Essentials for Designers

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Debbie Pearson, Designer
My Blog
Classique Designs
Studio Girls @ Scrapbookgraphics

I am so glad that I found this link! Debbie thanks for your great information too! I've been wondering how to offer this service with my scrapping for others bus. I was also wondering...how much should I charge for a brochure design? It seems similar to layouts but has a lot more detailed information which means more time involvement.